Parents in the small town of Moline in Illinois have launched a protest against an after-school Satan club that was allowed to hold after-school meetings at the Jane Addams Elementary School.
Reports cited flyers of The After School Satan Club can be found around the campus, enticing the kids for a fun afternoon of activities for one Thursday of the month from January until May 2022. These activities include puzzles, games, science projects, arts and crafts, and nature exploration.
Parents said that some of the kids brought home the flyers; thus, they became aware that there is such a club in the school. One parent, however, said that none of the teachers passed the flyers around.
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Why the School Allowed the Satan Club
USA Today confirmed that the flyers are authentic and that the school authorities allowed The After School Satan Club to advertise on the campus. Candace Sountris, the spokesperson for the Moline-Coal Valley School District, also acknowledged the ire of the parents but stated that the district could not discriminate among groups, including those with religious affiliations, if they want to use the school facilities.
In a statement, Sountris said that the school district has always allowed groups to rent out school facilities for a fee. It has also allowed an "after-school child evangelism" from The Good News Club to use publicly-funded school property in the past. WQAD reported that the school approved The Good News Club to conduct bible programs in November 2021.
The flyers for the after-school activities, for both the Satan and the bible clubs, are not distributed. However, the kids, staff, or parents could pick up the advertising materials from the lobby if they choose to do so.
"Please note that the district must provide equal access to all groups," Sountris said, adding that the kids will still need to have parental permission if they want to join the after-school clubs.
Why The Satan Club is in School
June Everett, the campaign director of The After School Satan Club, also spoke with USA Today and said they want to provide school kids an alternative to The Good News Club. Everett clarified that, unlike the bible study program, theirs is not religious indoctrination. He also clarified that the school or school district does not sponsor the club's activities.
The After School Satan Club promotes "self-driven activities" that don't make kids feel it's a schoolwork add-on. Everett said that even parents might join the activities that focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, benevolence and empathy, creative expression, and personal sovereignty.
The club is under The Satanic Temple, which has chapters nationwide. Part of its mission statement read that they are not about converting or recruiting people into their organization. Their focus is on "free inquiry and rationalism." The Satanic Temple also stated that they reject a belief in a supernatural figure but uphold "scientific rationality" in their thinking.
